Solar-powered desalination unit

A solar-powered desalination unit produces drinking water from saline water through direct or indirect methods of desalination powered by sunlight. Countries such as Australia, Italy and Egypt have adopted this system as an alternative source of water for the population. [1]

The intermittent nature of sunlight and its variable intensity throughout the day makes predicting its efficiency difficult. However, incorporating a thermal energy storage system solves this problem and ensures constant performance even during non-sunlight hours and cloudy days, improving overall efficiency. [2]

Solar stills

One type of solar desalination unit is a solar stillit is also similar to a condensation trap. A solar still is a simple way of distilling water, using the heat of the sun to drive evaporation from moisture, and ambient air to cool to condense film. Two basic types of solar stills are box and pit stills. In a solar still, impure water is contained outside the collector, where it is evaporated by sunlight shining through clear plastic. The pure water vapor condenses on the surface and the surface of the water, where it is collected and removed. The box type is more sophisticated. The basic principles of solar water distillation are simple, yet effective, as distilling replicates the way nature makes rain. The sun’s energy heats water to the point of evaporation. As the water evaporates, water vapor rises, condensing on the glass surface for collection. This process removes impurities, such as salts and heavy metals, and eliminates microbiological organisms. The end result is water cleaner than the rainwater purest.

ROSI

A solar powered unit for remote communities has been tested in the Northern Territory of Australia . The “reverse-osmosis solar installation ‘(ROSI) uses membrane filtration to Provide a reliable and clean drinking water from stream sources Such As brackish groundwater . Solar energy overcomes the usually high-energy operating costs of greenhouse gas emissions . ROSI can also remove trace contaminants such as arsenic and uranium that may cause certain health problems, and minerals such as calcium carbonate which causeswater hardness . [3]

Project leader Dr. Andrea Schaefer from the University of Wollongong’s Faculty of Engineering said ROSI has the potential to bring clean water to remote communities throughout Australia. [3]

Groundwater (qui peut Dissolved salts or other contaminants) or water surface (qui May-have high turbidity gold Contain microorganisms ) is pumped into a tank with an ultrafiltration membrane, qui Removes viruses and bacteria. This water is fit for cleaning and bathing. Ten percent of That water undergoes nanofiltration and reverse osmosis in the second stage of purification, qui Removes salts and trace contaminants Producing drinking water. A photovoltaic solar array tracks the sun and powers the water supply, using the plentiful sunlight available in remote regions of Australia not served by the power grid. [4]